Mass spectrometer autosampler

Abstract

The present invention relates to an autosampler device useful in high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and more particularly to a device useful for the automated introduction of small sample volumes into a HPLC system. Methods of analyzing low abundant protein samples using such a device are also included.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An autosampler device for introducing a test sample into a HPLC system, comprising: 
       a. a housing, said housing comprising at least two surfaces;  
       b. one or more apertures defined by said housing, wherein said one or more apertures are each for receiving capillary tubing;  
       c. a plate member within said housing, said plate member defining at least one opening for receiving a test sample container;  
       d. a first movement member, wherein said first movement member is fixedly attached at a first side thereof to said housing and at a second side thereof to said plate member, and wherein said first movement member is for moving said plate member;  
       e. a second movement member, wherein said second movement member is fixedly attached to said housing, and wherein said second movement member is for moving a vial positioned within said test sample container; and  
       f. at least one inlet passageway in fluid communication with said housing, said inlet passageway being for introducing a fluid material into said housing.  
     
     
       2. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said first movement member is a motor. 
     
     
       3. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said second movement member is a solenoid. 
     
     
       4. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a first surface, a second surface and a wall member connecting said first surface and said second surface. 
     
     
       5. The autosampler device of  claim 4 , wherein said first surface defines a cover member in removable sealing registry over said wall member. 
     
     
       6. The autosampler device of  claim 4 , wherein said second surface defines a base member in fixed sealing registry under said wall member. 
     
     
       7. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing substantially defines a cylinder. 
     
     
       8. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits substantially an entire test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       9. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device is useful for the analysis of low abundant protein samples. 
     
     
       10. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 50 percent to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       11. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 55 percent to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       12. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 60 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       13. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 65 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       14. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 70 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       15. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 75 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       16. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 80 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       17. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 85 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       18. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 90 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       19. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said autosampler device permits from about 95 to about 100 percent of said test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       20. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first movement member and said second movement member are controlled by one or more electronic devices. 
     
     
       21. The autosampler device of  claim 20 , wherein said one or more electronic devices are computing devices. 
     
     
       22. The autosampler device of  claim 21 , wherein said one or more computing devices permits substantially automated operation of said autosampler device. 
     
     
       23. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid material is a gaseous material. 
     
     
       24. The autosampler device of  claim 23 , wherein said gaseous material is nitrogen. 
     
     
       25. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid material effects a pressure increase in said housing. 
     
     
       26. The autosampler device of  claim 25 , wherein said pressure increase in said housing causes a test sample present in said vial to be introduced into said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       27. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said second movement member causes said vial to contact said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       28. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said second movement member causes said vial to be disposed about said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       29. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said first movement member is for moving said plate member in a substantially circumferential manner. 
     
     
       30. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , wherein said second movement member is for moving said test sample container in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
       31. The autosampler device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for determining when said test sample container is aligned with said capillary tubing. 
     
     
       32. A system for introducing a test sample into a HPLC system, comprising: 
       a. the autosampler device of  claim 1 ; and  
       b. a pressurizing system in fluid communication with said inlet passageway of the device of  claim 1 .  
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein said autosampler device is useful for the analysis of low abundant protein samples. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 32 , wherein said pressurizing system is a two-stage pressurizing system. 
     
     
       35. A system for introducing a test sample into a HPLC system, comprising: 
       a. a housing, said housing comprising at least two surfaces;  
       b. one or more apertures defined by said housing, wherein said one or more apertures are each for receiving capillary tubing;  
       c. a plate member within said housing, said plate member defining at least one opening for receiving a test sample container;  
       d. a first movement member, wherein said first movement member is fixedly attached at a first side thereof to said housing and at a second side thereof to said plate member, and wherein said first movement member is for moving said plate member;  
       e. a second movement member, wherein said second movement member is fixedly attached to said housing, and wherein said second movement member is for moving a vial positioned within said test sample container;  
       f. at least one inlet passageway in fluid communication with said housing, said inlet passageway being for introducing a fluid material into said housing;  
       g. a pressurizing system in fluid communication with said inlet passageway.  
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 35 , wherein said system is useful for the analysis of low abundant protein samples. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 35 , wherein said pressurizing system is a two-stage pressurizing system. 
     
     
       38. A HPLC system, comprising: 
       a. the autosampler device of  claim 1 ;  
       b. a pressurizing system in fluid communication with said inlet passageway of the autosampler device of  claim 1 ; and  
       c. a mass spectrometer, said mass spectrometer being cooperative with said capillary tubing of the autosampler device of  claim 1 .  
     
     
       39. The HPLC system of  claim 38 , wherein said autosampler device is useful for the analysis of low abundant protein samples. 
     
     
       40. A HPLC system, comprising: 
       a. a housing, said housing comprising at least two surfaces;  
       b. one or more apertures defined by said housing, wherein said one or more apertures are each for receiving capillary tubing;  
       c. a plate member within said housing, said plate member defining at least one opening for receiving a test sample container;  
       d. a first movement member, wherein said first movement member is fixedly attached at a first side thereof to said housing and at a second side thereof to said plate member, and wherein said first movement member is for moving said plate member;  
       e. a second movement member, wherein said second movement member is fixedly attached to said housing, and wherein said second movement member is for moving a vial positioned within said test sample container;  
       f. at least one inlet passageway in fluid communication with said housing, said inlet passageway being for introducing a fluid material into said housing;  
       g. a pressurizing system in fluid communication with said inlet passageway; and  
       h. a mass spectrometer, said mass spectrometer being cooperative with said capillary tubing.  
     
     
       41. The HPLC system of  claim 40 , wherein said HPLC system is useful for the analysis of low abundant protein samples. 
     
     
       42. A method for analyzing a low abundant protein sample, comprising 
       a. introducing a low abundant protein sample into the autosampler device of  claim 1 , and  
       b. acquiring data related to said low abundant protein sample.  
     
     
       43. A method for analyzing a low abundant protein sample, comprising 
       a. introducing a low abundant protein sample into an autosampler device, wherein said autosampler device comprises:  
       i. a housing, said housing comprising at least two surfaces;  
       ii. one or more apertures defined by said housing, wherein said one or more apertures are each for receiving capillary tubing;  
       iii. a plate member within said housing, said plate member defining at least one opening for receiving a test sample container;  
       iv. a first movement member, wherein said first movement member is fixedly attached at a first side thereof to said housing and at a second side thereof to said plate member, and wherein said first movement member is for moving said plate member;  
       v. a second movement member, wherein said second movement member is fixedly attached to said housing, and wherein said second movement member is for moving a vial positioned within said test sample container;  
       vi. at least one inlet passageway in fluid communication with said housing, said inlet passageway being for introducing a fluid material into said housing;  
       vii. a pressurizing system in fluid communication with said inlet passageway; and  
       viii. a mass spectrometer, said mass spectrometer being cooperative with said capillary tubing;  
       b. acquiring data related to said low abundant protein sample.